12-48 count pack

Wax core

Round barrel

Premium-priced

Pros:

Very Rich Color Application

Easy to Sharpen

Great Packaging

Cons:

Somewhat Expensive

A lot of Overlap with Reds

Limited Set Sizes

Bruynzeel Design Colour Colored Pencils Review

Updated by Brandon F. on June 15, 2019

Bruynzeel is a somewhat new brand to us and one of our readers actually informed us about them. They are a Holland-based company that is owned by Royal Talens and they have a few different pencil sets including the Bruynzeel Design Graphite, Bruynzeel Design Aquarel, Bruynzeel Design Pastel, and the Bruynzeel Design Colour (which is what we are reviewing here).

This is a wax-based colored pencil that takes great pride in its intense color application and buttery soft lead. They come with a 3.7mm core, have a round barrel, and are offered in 12, 24, and 48 count sets.

Before we get into the juicy details of the Bruynzeel Design Colour Colored Pencils review, it is important to note that there are quite a few rumors floating around that the Bruynzeel Design Colour Colored Pencils are essentially rebranded Marco Renoir colored pencils. We definitely do see some similarities between the two: they are both wax-based, they have the same diameter core (3.7mm), they have the same shape of a barrel, and they are very heavy on the reds.

The noticeable differences come at the price and that we feel that the lead used in the Marco Renoir is a bit harder than in the Bruynzeel Design Colour Colored Pencils (after speaking to one of our readers who has extensive experience with both pencils, we actually are starting to think that the leads are, in fact, the same. We may have just received a set with abnormally hard leads). We will continue to research this and see if we can find some more concrete answers as to whether or not they overlap.

Visual Appeal – 3.5/5

The color output of these pencils is very impressive and you can produce huge amounts of color with relatively little application pressure. According to Bruynzeel, they use high-quality color pigments that not only make a lot of color but are also quite capable of being layered on top of each other which allows for much more dynamic color manipulation. The lightfastness aspect is also quite good here and these pencils should resist fading for many years. This is quite important as the set sizes can be a bit lacking, with the largest being only 48 pencils.

Speaking of the sets, we were a bit disappointed in the color variety. There were simply too many reds and oranges and many were basically the same color. In a smaller set such as this one, having color overlap is much more significant because there are fewer additional pencils to “make up” for it. The result here is that we feel there is a bit of a shortage of greens and blues to go around.

Usability and Durability – 4.5/5

We really enjoy how well the lead performs and it makes the Bruynzeel Design Colour Colored Pencils an absolute joy to use. The lead is a bit on the soft side but it doesn’t become too creamy to the point where it affects how easy it is to perform gentle strokes. As we mentioned above, you can produce a lot of color with very little pressure which is good not only because it reduces the strain on your hands and wrists but also helps to prolong the life of the pencil and minimize how often you have to sharpen it.

And speaking of sharpening, it is a very simple process and we had no issues with getting a sharp point. And equally as important, the sharp point didn’t instantly crack and break upon initial use (which is a common issue with pencils that have harder leads).

The core, coming in at 3.7mm, is a nice diameter that is neither too large nor too small. With the great control you have over the color application, these pencils are equally suited for detailed areas that require fine strokes as well as larger areas such as skylines or sides of buildings that need longer strokes with more consistent color.

Packaging and Presentation – 4.5/5

We are really impressed with the packaging of Bruynzeel Design Colour Colored Pencils. While these are a premium colored pencil, the packaging outperforms most other high-end pencils we have come across. They come in a lovely box with pull-out drawers that are eerily similar to what you would see with a jewelry box. Each pencil comes comfortably situated in its own molded slot on the foam. Not only does this look very nice, but it also helps to protect the pencils and even assists in easier color identification.

The pencils themselves come with an unpainted middle section (but it does have some sort of tarnish or finish on it) and below that is a darker tarnished area with the brand name and below that at the very base is a color-coordinate section that coincides with the color of the pencil. The Bruynzeel trademark is stamped in blue on the middle section as well. All of this combines to make an extremely attractive pencil and case that leads the pack in styling and protection as far as we are concerned.

Also worth noting is that the set comes with a color chart which we always like to see. This is very helpful when trying to identify specific colors as we all know how tough it can be to keep up with them all once we get to coloring.

Cost – 3/5

Being a premium colored pencil, the Bruynzeel Design Colour Colored Pencils are certainly not cheap. They are priced to compete with other high-end pencils such as Prismacolors, Faber-Castells, etc. When you are paying this much for a colored pencil you are allowed to be picky. While we certainly think that the packaging and color output is great, we do have some potential concerns such as the lack of color choices and also the supposed rumors that these are basically rebranded Marco Renoir (which can be much cheaper).

Overall Ranking – 4/5

Bruynzeel Design Colour Colored Pencils are a very interesting set that seems to prioritize great color output, excellent lightfastness, and attractive styling at the top. They hope that these great features will justify the rather high asking price and limited color selection. We definitely must commend them for the great lead that they use which is soft but can still manage a sharp point as well.

But we do have some minor issues: the color range is a bit underwhelming and this issue is exacerbated by the fact that the sets are a bit on the small side. Also, if the rumors are true that these are rebranded Marco Renoir colored pencils then it means that you are basically paying a huge premium for pretty packaging. But as of now, this is nothing more than a rumor and we do feel that there are some noticeable differences between the two sets that make them stand out individually. Ignoring that concern, these are a worthy competitor in the premium colored pencil lineup.

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